Bellarine electorate sports facilities
Alison MARCHANT (Bellarine) (10:00): This Allan Labor government continues to invest and support sports participation across the Bellarine community. Upgrades are currently underway to improve the facility at Portarlington Recreation Reserve, home to the Portarlington Football Netball Club, cricket club, Bellarine Agricultural Society, tennis and pony clubs and many more other organisations. Safety upgrades are progressing at the Collendina Reserve, making it safer for members of the Ocean Grove Cobras Junior Football Club and the Collendina Cricket Club, as well as their families and opposing teams. This safety upgrade will make sure that the entrance and moving around the reserve is improved. Wallington Reserve, home of the Wallington Cricket Club and the Bears baseball club, are having their pavilion upgraded to improve their all-abilities access. Barwon Heads Football Netball Club also have funding to redevelop their clubrooms and female change rooms. Excitingly, we also will start later this year on the North Bellarine Aquatic Centre. We are supporting Bellarine to have healthy and active communities, and a big part of this is to listen to what facilities are needed.
I meet with many community members, though, who are advocating for more indoor sporting facilities in the Bellarine, particularly for basketball, pickleball and badminton. The Regional Community Infrastructure Sports Fund is a great opportunity to work towards this, but I have been very disappointed to learn that the City of Greater Geelong has not applied and taken this opportunity for funding for indoor sport facilities. It is a missed opportunity, but I will continue to advocate on behalf of my electorate and work with clubs to ensure all avenues are explored.